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YOU MAY BE surprised to learn that tonight Dublin is taking a bigger role in the US Presidential race than you might have thought.
The Arlington Hotel that fronts onto Dublin’s River Liffey has played host to around 140 voters looking to have their say in the race for the Democratic nomination.
Up until 8pm, those taking part were able to fill out their secret ballot and place it in a white box marked ‘VOTE HERE’, sitting atop a table adorned with Old Glory.
TJ Mulloy, chairman of Democrats Abroad Ireland, has been living here for the past five years and told TheJournal.ie that the delegates chosen will go forward to Democratic National Convention in July.
Mulloy explained that while Democratic supporters across the world are able to cast their vote in the ‘Global Presidential Primary’, an equivalent does not exist for the Republican party.
He explains:
We value the diaspora vote hugely. Especially in a year when the anti-immigrant vote is so big on the right of American politics. We’re all immigrants ourselves and we cherish the Democratic Party for giving us the right to vote.
Any US citizens who might think they missed their opportunity this evening will be pleased to know they can still have their say.
Another session will be held at Monroes Tavern in Galway next Saturday and they are also able to cast their vote online at DemocratsAbroad.org until 8 March.
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Postal voting for emigrants wouldn’t be palatable here. The establishment wouldn’t allow it because it’s their policies that have forced people to migrate in the first place
US citizens abroad pay tax to their own government. Totally different scenario than here.
Firstly this isn’t a federal election it’s run by the Democratic Party for it’s members to decide their nominee for the presidential election, secondly do you understand the percentage of US citizens abroad who are eligible to vote in national elections is a fraction compared to the number of Irish citizens that are abroad and would be eligible under similar legislation, it has nothing to do with the establishment it’s that our situation is vastly different regarding the percentage of emigrants who would be eligible when compared to countries that do allow emigrants to vote
Do you ever question why there are so many of our people abroad?, our state has failed its youth time and again and we treat them like.. “shut the door on the way out”. What are we so worried about, it’s not like there are millions mad to line up and vote in our elections. If there was even a 5 year limit put on it or something I think people should get a chance to have a say on the future of their country. If I had no intention of coming back I wouldn’t go to the bother of trying to vote, why would I
Fair point Ian, I’ll get my coat
1/6 (officially, so it’s probably closer to 1/5 in reality) of our eligible voters are alienated by our establishment, cast off like those aboard the coffin ships centuries ago. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
The same people who on at least a weekly basis read Irish newspapers, watch Irish television, buy Irish products, play GAA, and regularly Skype home are deprived their right to have a say in the affairs of the country they were forced to leave.
http://www.globalirish.ie/2016/i-was-wrong-but-emigrants-will-get-voting-rights-eventually/
US citizens only pay tax on their income earned overseas over and above 100,000 USD.
Paying tax is not a requirement in order to vote. A large percentage of Irish residents don’t pay any net tax into the system. Some have never paid a cent of income tax. Should they be deprived of their right to vote?
The other argument that ‘the number of emigrants is such that they would distort the voting pattern’ is an interesting one.
One can just as easily argue that so many working age emigrants, especially 20-40 year olds leaving Ireland has already severely distorted voting patterns locally. Just because you don’t see their votes doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a major impact.
Many countries allot a couple of legislators for their overseas residents to vote for to ensure they continue to have a voice and input in their homeland. They don’t necessarily get to vote for the President although some certainly can like US citizens.
Also emigrants aren’t all of one voice of course, they have disparate political opinions and backgrounds and concerns.
I hate this myth that Irish abroad don’t pay tax so therefore shouldn’t have a vote. We don’t pay tax on our income however you are still liable for Irish tax on any income on Irish assets or worldwide capital gains/investment income until you are no longer tax resident in Ireland which takes 3 years from you leaving the country.
Don’t forget that’s 100k cash salary… And there’s no such thing as taxable benefits or benefit in kind for Americans abroad.
Most Americans working abroad rack up $100′s of thousands of employee paid for benefits, housing, mortgage paid on US property, healthcare, car, private school fees for kids, several business class flights home a year as employer paid for as allowances related to working abroad that aren’t taxable.
I know one who has a €20k a month lease on a crazy size penthouse. Always complaining he can’t take that as salary.
I just can’t help but finding it funny,one table and polling box..they still have to have a sign “VOTE HERE”
Sparky did you see any of the spoiled votes here despite all the signs saying how to vote correctly. I only wish they had a sign saying vote Bernie.
The man America needs right now is Bernie Sanders, sadly, it looks like instead of that they’ll have a choice between Trump & Hillary, and that is not a good pair to have to pick from!
I hope when Sanders loses he’ll have the cojones to endorse Jill Stein for the Green Party, who has far more in common with him than Hillary.
Very true James. I have not heard her name mentioned in any media though.
Clinton seems to have it sewn up at this stage.
Americans abroad can vote as can French, Germans,Brits…but not Irish. We of the Irish diaspora demand our right to vote in home elections. Attention UN and European Court.
Tldr
Tldr?
have your say